Project Grant R21AG084378

This $407,000 Project Grant from the National Institute on Aging (CFDA 93.866 - Aging Research) will support research by the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) to investigate the relationship between HIV infection and the onset and progression of Alzheimer's disease (AD) using AD mouse models infected with a chimeric HIV strain. The central hypothesis is that HIV may accelerate the development of cognitive decline in AD. The 2-year study will conduct longitudinal behavioral, pharmacological, molecular, and biochemical assessments to determine if HIV infection leads to earlier onset of AD-associated cognitive deficits in the mouse models. The research aims to address critical knowledge gaps on the potential comorbidity between HIV and AD, which is an emerging concern as individuals living with HIV age. Findings from this project have the potential to advance understanding of how these two conditions may interact and impact neurological decline.